Rafale fighter jets deal: Why sovereign guarantee was sought by India

The Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) negotiators for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from French vendor Dassault during September 2-16 were unable to obtain “sovereign guarantees” from Paris that would have bound the French government to always support the deal.

Instead, as Attorney General K K Venugopal admitted before the Supreme Court on November 14, New Delhi contented itself with a letter of comfort from the French Prime Minister (PM).

A letter of comfort amounts to a non-binding intention to support the contract. It is not a legally enforceable Read More